Jamaica’s Most Environmentally Friendly Hotel
As well as contributing toward improving general environmental concerns, it is important for us to contribute to a Jamaican project which seeks to preserve and improve the Jamaican environment.
We are partnering with the Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT), a Jamaican NGO that has an extensive reforestation programme using mainly native Jamaican forest trees, particularly those that are fast growing and have little value for lumber but which are excellent for biodiversity – these include species like Alchornea latifolia – Dovewood, Clethra occidentalis – Soapwood, Hibiscus elatus – Blue Mahoe and Hernandia catalpifolia – Water Mahoe (the tree the endangered Giant Swallowtail Butterfly lays its eggs on and the only plant the caterpillars will eat).
The JCDT grows most of the seedlings in their nursery at Holywell as well as in some community nurseries. In areas closer to communities fruit trees are also planted. The JCDT plants in areas that have been identified (using satellite imagery and ground-truthing) as high priority areas for rehabilitation.
The Co-operation between Hotel Mocking Bird Hill & JCDT:
For couples that honeymoon and get married here we offer a “Happy Marry Tree” Package which includes 2 trees, a gift certificate made of handmade paper and presented in a folder of the handmade paper.
For guests who would like to contribute locally and help us preserve the Jamaican environment we have taken an average quantity of greenhouse gases that are emitted per passenger for the most common short, medium and long haulflights and made a simple calculation of how many trees have to be planted to neutralise the impact of their journey to Jamaica:
Short haul (2-3 hours flight) average 0.6 tonnes Co2 US$ 10 for 1 tree
Medium (4-7 hours flight) average 1.3 tonnes Co2 US$ 20 for 2 trees
Long Haul (8 and more hours) average 3.75 tonnes Co2 US$ 30 for 3 trees
Guests can indicate whether they would like to add a contribution to offsetting the carbon emissions they generated by their travel either at the time of making their reservation, at check- in or at check- out. Their contribution will go towards the JCDT’s tree planting programme.